U.S. Army veteran accused of choking woman during nearly fatal 'bear hug'

Markee J. Manning, 24, is being held without bond at the Orange County Jail on a slew of charges.

December 27, 2012|By Arelis Hernández, Orlando Sentinel

A 24-year-old Army veteran was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly gave a woman he loved a near-fatal "bear hug."

The victim told deputies Markee Manning of Orlando appeared at her Pine Hills home on Christmas Eve, argued with her and wrapped his arms around her face until she became unconscious.

Manning fled the scene in a car, nearly rammed a deputy's patrol vehicle and caused a crash near Hiawassee Road, where he was taken into custody, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

He is being held without bond at the Orange County Jail on charges of aggravated battery, robbery by sudden snatching, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.

Manning said he knew that woman from work but they were not dating or in a relationship. He went to the victim's house to speak to her because he was in love with her.

They quarreled, she called out to her mother and he threatened to kill her and himself, the report said. Manning tried to strangle her, covering her mouth and nose for nearly 20 seconds until the victim's mother intervened.

"If [the victim's] mother did not interrupt the struggle it is likely that [Manning] would have continued his actions and murdered [her]," deputies wrote in a report.

Patrol vehicles arrived just as he was fleeing and tried to corner Manning, but he sped out of the neighborhood. He nearly struck a deputy's car on his way out.

Manning traveled south in the northbound lanes of Hiawassee Road at a high rate of speed and struck a curb, a report said. The car rotated over the center median and rolled several times into the bushes of a nearby school and church. Manning ran from the car but was taken into custody soon after.

Manning told deputies he was sorry for grabbing the victim, calling it a "bear hug," the report said. He served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2009.